Pump



July 5 1927.

w. OLIVE? PUMP Filed Oct. '2, 1925 S Sheets-Sheet 1' 7.

July 5, 1927.

W. OLIVER PUMP 3' Shets-Sheet? El mw E Filed Oct. 7, 1925 1 llllllllzllII III IIIIII J 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PUMP W. OLIVER Filed Oct. 7, 1925 HIVJuly 5, 1927.

T m [I rum Patented July 5, 1927.

WILLIAM OLIVER, OF LOCKPOR'I, NEW YORK;

PUMP.

Application filed October 7, 1925. Serial No. 81,099.

This invention relates to a pumpfor a refrigerating apparatus which ismore particularly designed for domestic use in which a small amount ofrefrigeration is required as compared with large commercialinstallations.

In the forms of such apparatus as heretofore constructed it has beenimpossible to supply a refrigerating medium in a completely liquefiedform to the cooling unit of the apparatus inasmuch as this liquid wasalways in a more or less foamy condition due to the admixture therewithof some of the unliquefied gaseous refrigerant medium which was mingledor suspended in the liquid body of the same. This is objectionablebecause when the refrigerating medium was subjected to pressure and ispermitted to expand in the form of a gas in the cooling unit such gasdoes not yield the maximum amount of cooling effect and it also preventsperfect control of the apparatus under all conditions.

It is one of the objects of this invention to preventdelivery from the.storage tank of the refrigerating medium which is in a more or lessfoamy condition but instead the foam has been broken down and thegaseous constituents thereof have been liquefied and therefore in thebest condition for delivery under pressure to the cooling unit where itis expanded in the form of gas. The means for accomplishing thisparticular object of this invention consists generally in theinterposition of a screen within the tank between its inlet throughwhich the refrigerating medium in the form of mixed liquid and gas isreturned thereto and the outlet of this tank from which the refrigerantin pure liquid form is conducted under pressure to the cooling unit.

An apparatus of this character as heretofore constructed has alwaysbeendiflicult to lubricate the compressor and maintain the same in a tightcondition so as to render the same most effective.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a compressor forthis purpose in which the blades of the pump are well lubricated and areliable seal is formed between the outer end of each pump blade and theperiphery of the pump cylinder by utilizing the film of the lubricantitself for this purpose, this object being arranged by providing theouter front corner of each blade with a recess or groove whereby thisblade during its forward movement while in engagement with the bore ofthe cylinder will pick up the lubricant and carry the same in. the formof a comparatively thick film along the bore of the cylinder and theadvancing outer front corner of the same whereby a perfectly tight jointis produced between each pump wing and the cylinder of the pump whichpermits of operating this pump constantly at a maximum efficiency andwith the minimum of wear and great economy.

Leakage through the joint between the shaft and the bearing in which theshaft is journaled has also been a cause of constant trouble in arefrigerating apparatus as heretofore constructed and it is anotherobject of this invention to so pack and mount the bearing of the rotarycompressor pump used in this refrigerating apparatusthat leakage fromthe interior of the pump to the exterior thereof is positivelyprevented, thereby avoiding loss of the refrigerating me dium andeffecting a considerable economy in operation. To that end the bearingof the compressor pump in which that end of thc shaft opposite to itssuction end is 10- rated, is packed by means of an oiling-ring which isin constant communication with the refrigerant tank so as to be betweenthe pressure therein and this bearing'being packed on opposite sides ofthis oil ring so as to positively prevent any oil from escapingtherefrom either to the atmosphere or to the interior of the pump.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is an elevation of aninstallation of a refrigerating apparatus embodying an improved form ofmy invention.

Figure 2, is a side elevation of the compressor, condenser,refrigeranttank, motor and associated parts, on an enlarged scale, thestorage tank being shown partly in section.

Figure 3, is a vertical cross section taken on line 33, Fig. 2.

Figure 4, is a vertical cross section of the compressor pump taken online 4-4, Fig. 5.

Figure 5, is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4.Figure 6, is a fragmentary vertical cross section on a reduced scaletaken on line 6-6, Fig. 5.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

The numeral represents the cooling unit of the refrigeratireig apparatuswhich is adapted to be plac in the space which is to be cooled and whichhas an inlet 11 through which the refrigerant is introduced in gaseousform for the purpose of enabling the same to most efficiently absorb theheat in the surrounding .space and it is also provided with an outlet 12through which the heat laden refrigerant vapors are delivered from thecooling unit. In the particular installation of this invention shown inFig. 1, this cooling unit is located within a compartment 13 of arefrigerator 14 such as are now in common use in households for storingand preserving family supplies of food.

The refri crating medium for this purpose is prefera ly drawn from asource of supply of pure liquid refrigerant 15 which is contained withinone end ofa tank 16, in this case the left end thereof as shown in Fig.2. The liquid refrigerant is conducted from this source of supply to theinlet 11 of the cooling unit by means of a delivery pipe 17 which latterwas provided with an expansion valve 18 of any suitable and well knowncharacter such as those now in common use and which operates toconvertinto aseous forma refrigerating medium which has been dischargedfrom the tank 16 in liquid form so that this gaseous refrigerant uponentering the cooling unit 10 will absorb the heat in the res ectivecompartment. For convenience in-ma ing repairs and also when installingthis apparatus a cut-off valve 19 is preferably arranged in the deliveryconduit 17 adjacent to the tank 16 and for a similar purpose a valve 20is arranged in this conduit 17 adjacent to the expansion valve 18.

In the present case the lower or inlet end of the liquid refrigerantdelivery pipe or tube 17 projects downward through the top of the tank16 and terminates at its lower end at a point between the top and bottomof this tank so that the inlet end of this pipe is at all times withinthe zone or layer of pure liquid refrigerant 15 and above the layer orzone 21 of lubricant which lies in the bottom of this tank for a purposewhich will presently appear, and the inlet of this pipe also is arrangedbelow the zone 22 of gaseous refrigerant which lies in the tank 16between the top thereof and the other side of the layer 15 of liquidrefrigerant. Although this refrigerant may be of any suitable characterit is preferable to provide ethylchloride, and the lubricant may also beof any approved character but referably glycerine which is now common yused in refrigeratin apparatus for lubricating the bearing surfaces andother parts which require lubrication to prevent undue friction andwear. v

In the present case the storage tank 16 is represented in the drawingsas located in the basement of the building and in the present case issupported on the floor of the basement by means of legs 23.

As the heat laden gaseous refrigerant issues from the outlet 12 of thecooling unit the same is taken up by a compressor which operates toforce the same through a condenser and then delivers the same into theinlet 24: of the tank 16 which inlet in the preferred construction isarranged at the right hand end of the tank, or op osite to that end inwhich the outlet or de ivery pipe 17 is arranged, and this inlet 2a isalso arranged above the zone of pure liquid refrigerant and within thezone of aseous liqu1d refrigerant, as shown in I ig. 2. The compressorfor this purpose may be variously constructed but in the present casethe same is preferably constructed in the form of a rotary pump, havingits body 25 provided with a horizontal cylinder 26 one side of which isprovided with a refrigerant inlet 27 and on its opposite side with arefrigerant outlet 28. The refrigerant inlet 27 is connected by means ofa conduit or pipe 29 with the outlet 12 of the cooling unit which pipeis preferably rovided adjacent to this outlet 12 with a va ve 30 forconvenience in cutting off the cooling unit in case repair of the sameor adjustment thereof is required without disturbing the remaining partsof the apparatus. This pipe 29 is also provided adjacent to the pumpinlet 27 with a check valve 31 which will only permit the liquid to flowinto the pump but not back out of the same, it is also provided with avalve 32 whereb the flow of liquid through this pipe may e regulated orthe-pump may be cut off from the remaining apparatus in case ofnecessity for making repairs, the same is also provided with a fillingfitting 33 which is normally closed by means of a plug 34 which fillingfitting permits of introducing the ethyl-chloride originally into theapparatus and also replenishing the same from time to time whenrequired.

The outlet 28 of the compressor pump is connected by means of a conduitor pipe 35 with the inlet or upper end of the condenser 36 which in thepresent form is constructed of a coil of tubin Between the upper end ofthis coil and t e conduit 35 is arranged a cut-off valve 37 forconvenience in cutting off these members from each other when thisbecomes necessary when erecting or dismantling the apparatus or makingan adjustment or repairs on the same. The lbwer or outer end-of thecondenser coil 36 is connected by means of a return pipe 38. with theinlet 24 of the storage tank or chamber 16. The refrigerant uponentering the inlet of liquid form with only part of the refrigerantstill in a gaseous or uncondensed form. This admixture of liquidrefrigerant and gaseous refrigerant in the storage tank produces a foamymass on top of the liquid portion of the refrigerant which foamy mass ifpermitted to be discharged from the tank through the delivery pipe 17 tothe cooling unit 10 would seriously interfere with obtainin the maximumefiiciency in the cooling effect of the refrigerant and also preventproper regulation of the cooling effect of the apparatus. Means aretherefore provided for breaking down the foamy mass of refrigerantwithin the storage tank 16 after the same enters through the inlet 24thereof and before escapin through the outlet at the lower end of theelivery pipe 17. This is accomplished most effectively by thearrangement of a screen 39 of a suitable small mesh of woven wire fabricwhich is arranged vertically across the space within the tank at a pointbetween the inlet 24 and the lower opening of the delivery pipe 17, thisscreen in the present case being mounted at its margin on a frame 40which is secured in the bore of the tank 16 in any approved ofi'uonlypure liquid unmixed with any foam;

and delivers this pure liquid refrigerant to the expansion valve 18where it entire mass is expanded into the form of a gas preparatory toentering the cooling unit 10, thereby exerting the maximum coolingeffect in the respective compartment.

Within the cylinder 26 of the pump is arranged a rotoror piston 41 whichis mounted eccentrically therein so that one side thereof engages with acurved surface 42 of the pump cylinder while its opposite side isspacedtherefrom by an intervening pump chamber 43 which is of crescent-shapeform and extends from the inlet 27 to the outlet 28 of the compressorpump, as shown in Fig.

4. This rotor is mounted on a shaft 44 which extends lengthwisehorizontally through the heads 45, 46, at opposite ends of the pumpcylinder and may be driven by any suitable form of motor, for instancean electric motor 47 which is connected with one end of the shaft 44 andis mounted on top of the storage tank 16, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.This motor is automatically con trolled by means which are responsive tovariations in the temperature within the compartn'leut which is to becooled and the means which are shown to this purpose in the drawingsconsist of a thermostatic switch 48 which is electrically connected bymeans of Wires 49 and 50 with the battery 51 and the motor 47 and whichis so organized that when the temperature in the cooling compartment 13drops to a predetermined point the circuits through the motor will beopen so that the compressor pump driven from the motor will cease tooperate and therefore interrupt the circulation refrigerating mediumthrough the system and prevent a further drop in the temperature in thecooling compartment, whereas if the temperature in the cooling chambershould rise up to a predetermined point the thermostatic switch 48 willclose the electric circuit and cause the compressor pump to be operatedfor again circulating the refrigerating medium through the system sothat the 0001- mg effect of the same is again resumed and continuesuntil the temperature in the cooling compartment 13 has dropped belowthe point at which the thermostatic switch has been set for hightemperature and therefore opens said switch.

The particular form of compressor pump shown in the drawings bestadapted for the present purpose has its rotor 41 provided with aplurality of radial pockets or guide ways 52 in each of which slides aradially movable piston wing or blade 53 which latter is generally theform of a fiat plate and en gages its, outer end with the bore of thepump cylinder. When this pump is in operation the rotor turns in thedirection of the arrow 54 in Fig. 4 and each of the piston wings orblades moves outwardly in its pocket -so that the same engages the boreof the pump cylinder. As each piston engages with the curved abutmentplates 42 on the cylinder between the inlet and outlet thereof eachpiston is moved into its innermost position in which it exerts nopropelling effect upon the fluid within the pump cylinder but as eachpiston wing or blade reaches the inlet of the pump it gradually movesradially outward until it reaches its maximum projected position abouthalf way around the cylinder of the pump and then is again retractedinto its respective pocket on the rotor by the time it passes the outlet28, thereby causing the liquid inthe pump iii c linder to be moved throuh the crescentshaped saace within the cy inder from the inlet to t eoutlet thereof and produce the circulation of the refrigerating mediumin the system.

This pressure of the pump is exerted in the first instance with thefluid which it receives from the outlet of the cooling unit through thepipe 28 and discharges the same throu h the pipe into the condenser 36and fialivers the same into the right hand end of the storage tank 16through the inlet 24 thereof so that a pressure is established withinthis tank which tends constantly to press the liquid therein downwardlytoward the bottom of this tank and, as a result of this pressure, liquidtaken from the central zone 15 of li uid ethyl-chloride will be pressedoutwardly through the pipe 17 and delivered to the expansion valve 18where the same is converted into a vapor preparatory to entering thecooling unit 10 and absorbing heat in the vicinity thereof. 0

This pressure upon the liquid within the tank 16 is utilized forlubricating the working surfaces of the compressor pump and alsoassisting in moving the piston wings or blades outwardly and holding thesame reliably in engagement .at their outer ends with the bore of thebore cylinder.

As shown in the drawings the pump shaft 44 is journaled in the pumpcasing on opposite sides of the rotor 41 by means of ball bearings eachof which consists of an inner ball race mounted on the shaft 44, anouter ball race 56 mounted on the adjacent head of the casing and anannular row of balls 57 interposed between the said inner and outer ballraces. The inner end of the shaft 44 is also journaled in a bearing 58which is arranged on the head 45 of the easing adjacent to the outerside of the respective ball bearing. At the outer end of the bearing 58on the casing head 45 is formed an inlet chamber 59 which is connectedwith the upper end of a pressure tube or conduit 60 extending throughthe top of the tank 16 and terminating at its lower end within this tankadjacent to the bottom thereof so that the lower end of this tubecommunicates solely with the strata 21 of liquid lubricant previouslyreferred to. The numeral 61 represents a conduit or passage arrangedcentrally within the shaft 44 and extending from that end thereof whichfaces the inlet chamber 59 to that part of the shaft which is arrangedwithin the rotor of the ump, and 62 represents a plurality of brancpassages or conduits extending laterally from the inner end of thelongitudinal passage 61 to the inner ends of the several pockets 52 ofthe rotor in which the piston wings or blades 53 slide radially. Itfollows from this construction that'the downward pressure upon the fluidwithin the tank 16 causes the liquid aeaaooe lubricant 21, consistingreferably of glycerine to be forced upwa 1y through the pipe or tube 60into the chamber 59 where a part thereof passes inwardly. through theopposing surfaces between the bearing 58- and the adjacent part of theshaft 44 thence past the respective roller bearing and thence throu hany available joints to the pump cylin er where it joins the fluid drawnby the pum from the pipe 28 and is dischar ed throng the pipe 35. Someof this liqui also passes from the chamber 59 through the lon 'tudinalconduit 61 thence through the ranch passages 62 and into the inner endsof the pockets 52 where this liquid lubricant serves to force the pistonblades or wings outwardly against the bore of the pump cylinder, anyliquid leaking past the 'jomts between these blades and the rotor beingconducted to the inside of the pump cylinder and joining the fluid whichis being propelled by the pump from the inlet to the outlet thereof. Thepipe 60 is preferably rovided with a cut-o3 valve 63 whereby the pumpand tank may be disconnected when this is required during installation,inspection or repairing the apparatus. 7

As each piston wing or blade moves forwardly in engagementwith-the boreof the pump cylinder :1 film of liquid is gathered on each blade at theouter front corner thereof which is scraped from the bore of thecylinder. At the outer front corner of each wing the same is cut away soas to form a pocket 64 which extends across the entire .width or face ofeach blade at its outer end and a longitudinal radial groove 65 isarranged in each win and extends for a short distance inwardly rom thebottom of the pocket 64, as shown in Fi 4. As each wing or blade movesforwar ly in engagement with the bore of the pump cylinder and scrapes afilm of liquid therefrom this film is caused to pile up in the form of amass within the pocket 64 of the groove 65 and held there so as to forma seal in the joint between the respective piston blade and the bore ofthe pump cylinder which prevents any leakage between these relativelymoving surfaces thereby causing the pump to operate more effectively andinsure reliable circulation of the refri erating medium through thesystem. In a dition to the ball a bearing between the opposite head 46of the pump casing and the adjacent art of the pump shaft 44 means areprovided on this head of the casing whereby a liquid lubricant isconducted to this ball bearing from the lubricant zone 21 of the tank 16and a tight joint is formed between this part of the bearing and thepump casing which prevents any part of the lubricant or refrigeratingagent to escape to the exterior of the pump at this end of the casin Thepreferred form of the means which are shown in the drawings foraccomplishing this purpose are constructed as follows The numeral 66represents a cylindrical chamber arranged in the outer part of the head46 around the shaft 44 and extending from the outer end of the head 46inwardly to the respective ball bearing. Secured to the outer end of thehead 46 by means of a screw joint and surrounding the adjacent part ofthe shaft 44 is a cap 67. The numeral 68 represents an oil ring arrangedin the packing chamber 66 midway between its inner and outer ends andbearing with its periphery against the bore of this packing chamberwhile its inner side or bore is separated by an annular space 69 fromthe periphery of the shaft 44. On its periphery this oil ring isprovided with an annular groove 70 and at intervals in its circumferencethe same is provided with a plurality of radial openings 71 extendingfromthe bore of this ring to the bottom of the groove 70.'

The numeral 72 represents aconduit or tube 72 secured at its upper endto the easing head 46 and communicating with the bore of the chamber 60opposite the groove 70 in the oil ring 68, and extends with its centralpart through the top of the storage tank 60 and terminates at its lowerend a short distance above the bottom of this tank and within the zone21 of liquid lubricant, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This pipe isprovided with a valve 73 whereby communication between the pump and theperipheries engage with the bore of the chamber 66. Similar packingrings 75 of metal are arranged between the periphery of the shaft 44 andthe bore of the chamber 66 and between the inner side of the oil ring68.and the outer side of the inner ball race forming part of theadjacent ball bearing.

When the pump is in operation and produces a downward pressure on theliquid within the tank 16 part of the liquid lubri cant in the zone 21is forced upwardly through the pipe 72 into the annular groove of theoil ring 62, thence inwardly along the joints between the shaft 44 andthe adjacent surfaces to the adjacent ball bearing and then joins theliquid within the cylinder of the pump which is being acted upon by theblades thereof. At this time the atmospheric pressure prevents anyleakage from the oil ring past the metallic packing rings 74 to theexterior of the pump and the constant suction effect of the pump on thejoints between the inner metallic packing ring 75 operates to draw any.oil from the ring 68 toward the cylinder of the pump, therebypreventing any of the lubricating agent or refrigerating medium fromescaping to the exterior of the pump in the event that any looscnessshould develop in the joint between the casing head 46 and the shaft dueto wear as the result of continued use of the pump.

Inasmuch as any excess lubricant taken up by the pump for lubricatingits wearing surfaces. are again discharged through the outlet of thesame with the refrigerating agent this mixture of lubricant andrefrigerating agent passes together through the condenser and backthrough the inlet 24 into the storage tank 16 where the difference inspecific gravity between the lubricant and the re frigerant againseparate into lower and up per stratas ready to be again circulated, itbeing understood, however, that only liquid refrigerant iswithdrawn fromthe tank 16 and delivered to the expansion valve of the cooling unit andonly liquid lubricant is withdrawn from the tank for use in lubricatingthe wearing surfaces of the pump inasmuch as the lubricant only passesfrom the tank 16 through the pump and coil 36 and back to the tank,While the refrigerant passes from the tank 16 through the pipe 17,expansion valve 18, cooling unit 10, pipe 29, compressor pump, pipe 35,coil 36 and back into the tank where it is separated from the lubricantwith which it becomes mixed in the pump and condenser.

For the purpose of assisting in abstracting the heat from therefrigerant as the same passes through the cylinder of the pump and thecoil 36 of the condenser the exterior of the pump cylinder is providedwith a plurality of radiating fins 76 and the shaft 44 of the pump isprovided with a rotary fan 7 i which operates to deliver a blast of airagainst the fins 7 6 and the coil 36 and thus serve to carry off theheat contained within the refrigerant and lubricant, thereby reducingthe temperature of the same and put- .ting the same in condition forre-circulation in the system and again absorbing heat in the coolingchamber 13.

On the Whole this refrigerating apparatus is'very simple inconstruction, eflicient in operation and capable of being manufacturedand operated at a comparatively low cost inasmuch as it has no delicateparts which are likely to get out of order, the same can be run with aminimum expenditure of power and leakage of fluid refrigerant orlubricant is avoided so that replacement of these constituents orreplenishing of the same are only required at long intervals.

By this means a reliable seal of oil is formed between the shaft and thecasing in which it turns whereby external air is prevented from enteringthe compressor and building up a dangerous pressure in the con1-pressor, and also preventing ethyl-chloride from escaping from thecompressor and necessitating frequent replenishing.

I claim as my invention 1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a compressorpump provided with a cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, a rotorarranged within said cylinder and provided with a plurality of radialpockets, and a pluralit of piston blades one slidable radially in eac 1of said pocket and each having its outer end engaging the bore of saidcylinder and having its outer front corner removed to form a liquid filmreceiving pocket between the outer front part of the respective bladeand the bore of said cylinder.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a compressor pump provided with acylinder having an inlet and an outlet, a rotor arranged within saidcylinder and provided with a plurality of radial pockets, and aplurality of piston blades one slidable radially in each of said pocketsand each having its outer end engaging the bore of said cylinder andhaving its outer front corner removed to form a liquid film receivingpocket between the outer front part of the respective blade and the boreof said cylinder and each blade having a longitudinal groove extendininwardly from said pocket at the rear end 0 the same.

3. A compressor for a refrigerating apparatus comprising a cylinderhaving an inlet and an outlet, a closed bearing on one side, an openbearing on its opposite side, and a lubricant chamber surrounding saidopen bearing, a shaft turning in said closed and open bearings andextending through said cylinder, but terminating at one end within saidclosed bearing and extending at its opposite end to the exterior of thecylinder, a motor connected with that end of the shaft which extends tothe exterior of the cylinder, a rotor mounted on said shaft within saidcylinder, piston blades mounted on said rotor and engaging with the boreof said cylinder, and a lubricant reservoir connected with said chamberand subjected to the pressure of the outlet of said cylinder for forcinglubricant from the lubricant reservoir into said chamber, therebyforming a seal between the shaft and the open bearing to prevent liquidfrom escaping to the exterior and prevent external air from entering thecylinder.

WILLIAM OLIVER.

